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Purdue football: Is Aidan O’Connell’s day the greatest Purdue QB performance of all-time?
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Aidan O’Connell has picked up a few honors following his career performance.
The Purdue quarterback picked up player-of-the-week honors from the Big Ten, PFF College and the Walter Camp Football Foundation. And deservedly so, after the senior racked up a career-high 536 yards on 40-of-54 passing with 3 touchdowns. He didn’t turn the ball over.
But at a school known as a Cradle of Quarterbacks, the performance is the latest in great ones turned in by the likes of Bob Griese, Jim Everette, Drew Brees, Kyle Orton, Curtis Painter and others. But in terms of single-game greatness, where does O’Connell’s performance rank in Purdue annals?
One can build an argument that it might be the greatest-ever singe-day performance by a Purdue quarterback, and that says a lot.
Let’s take a look at the candidates:
Aidan O’Connell • Nov. 6, 2021 • W, 40-29 over No. 5 (AP) Michigan State
Statistics: 40-54, 536 yards, 3 TDs | 0 int.
Playing against the fifth-ranked team in the country — No. 3, according to the College Football Playoff Committee — Aidan O’Connell delivered a masterful performance, as the Boilermakers earned their 17th victory all-time as an unranked team beating a top-5 opponent. O’Connell was the reason why.
A former walk-on, he spent most of the day firing the ball around the Ross-Ade Stadium yard, hitting 8 receivers, 3 of them scoring touchdowns. He was rarely off-target, perhaps with only 2 passes, and nailed receivers in spots that allowed them to run after the catch. It helps too that the Boilermakers won the game decisively, taking control in the third quarter and keeping the Spartans at an arm’s length.
The Purdue win was its sixth of the season, making the Boilermakers’ bowl eligible after a 2-year absence, with the loss being MSU’s first after an undefeated start, seriously hurting the Spartans’ Playoff chances.
The case for O’Connell: It’s incredibly impressive that O’Connell passed the ball 54 times without a turnover, while racking up 536 yards and connecting for 3 touchdowns. And he did it against one of the country’s top teams, a Michigan State team that came to Ross-Ade 8-0 and in position for an entry in the CFP.
David Blough • Sept. 15, 2018 • L, 40-37 to Missouri
Statistics: 39-55 for 572 yards, 3 TDs | 1 int.
On a late summer night in Ross-Ade Stadium, David Blough spent about 4 hours slinging the football for the Boilermakers, passing for a Purdue record 572 yards with 3 touchdowns; he rushed for another one.
But the day, overall, was a downer, as Purdue’s second-half comeback fell short, with Missouri winning on a last-second field goal. It didn’t help matters that Purdue felt as if it was robbed, when a late touchdown pass to Jared Sparks was overturned on replay review. Instead of being up 4 with 3 ½ minutes to go, Purdue had to settle for tying the score. Days later, the Big Ten confirmed to Purdue that the TD, as originally called on the field, should have stood. It was the Boilermakers’ third loss in a row to start the season, all coming by a combined 8 points. Still, Blough was great and continues to hold the Purdue yardage record.
The case for Blough: The yardage is incredible and will be hard to beat, even by Jeff Brohm pass-happy offenses. But Blough’s performance included an interception and he caught a break when a ball intended for Markell Jones bounced off the running back and into the hands of tight end Brycen Hopkins, who took it 74 yards to set up a score. And, well, Purdue lost.
Drew Brees • Oct. 3, 1998 • W, 56-21 over Minnesota
Statistics: 31-36 for 522 yards, 6 TDs | 0 int.
Against Minnesota, Drew Brees passed for 522 yards on only 36 attempts, hitting 31 (for a 86.1 completion percentage) and amassing 6 touchdowns without a turnover. The game was 14-0 before Brees completed a pass of less than 11 yards, with the All-America QB connecting on 39-, 32-, and 46-yarders on the Boilermakers’ first 2 possessions. Brees’ accuracy was on full display, as 8 receivers caught at least one pass of at least 10 yards. Brees didn’t play the entire game either, as he was out after 3 quarters. Had he continued the numbers might have been even more ridiculously good; backup David Edgerton passed for 82 yards with 4 completions, giving Purdue a total of 604 yards.
The case for Brees: It’s Drew Brees. And he was fantastic, connecting on just about every pass he threw. There’s a reason why many refer to it as “Brees’ Perfect Game.” But Minnesota wasn’t good in 1998, although the Gophers were 3-0 before the loss. However, they finished only 5-6 overall, 2-6 in the Big Ten.
Bob Griese • Sept. 25, 1965 • W, 25-21 over No. 1 (AP) Notre Dame
Statistics: 19-22, 283 yards, 3 TDs | 1 int.
During his junior season at Purdue, Bob Griese had a chance to make a statement against top-ranked Notre Dame in Ross-Ade Stadium. And boy did he deliver, throwing for 283 yards — keep in mind that football was a different game 60 yards ago, with teams more reliant on the run than the pass — with 3 touchdowns and an interception. Purdue’s best player, a 2-time All-America quarterback who also at times served as the Boilermakers’ place-kicker and punter, Griese ended with a monster performance that’s still talked about today.
The case for Griese: It was a great win over a great team, which happened to be rival Notre Dame, which came to West Lafayette ranked No. 1 in the country. Griese did throw an interception, but only 2 other passes missed their intended Purdue targets.
Kyle Orton • Sept. 11, 2004 • W, 59-7 over Ball State
Statistics: 23-26, 329 yards, 5 TDs | 0 int.
With students in the Ross-Ade stands chanting “Ball State High School,” Kyle Orton was dialed in on the field. The Heisman Trophy candidate threw for only 329 yards before being pulled in late in the third quarter, but he did so on a remarkably efficient 23-of-26 passing. And of the 23 completions, 5 resulted in scores. The Cardinals didn’t provide much resistance, with Orton leading 4 touchdown drives in the first 16:30, running for the first one then throwing for the next 3. Orton completed his first 11 passes during the stretch, as Purdue went up 28-0.
The case for Orton: Six touchdowns in less than 3 quarters is outstanding and it came during a period of Orton’s career when he was basically superhuman. But it was against Ball State, which won only 2 games in 2004.
Kyle Orton • Nov. 20, 2004 • W, 63-24 over Indiana
Statistics: 33-54, 522 yards, 6 TDs | 0 int.
Poor Indiana. After the 2004 season turned sideways — Purdue started 5-0 but lost to Wisconsin when Orton fumbled in the 4th quarter, then the QB missed several games with an injury — the senior took out his frustrations on the Hoosiers. Purdue jumped ahead 42-10 in the first half, with Orton throwing for 401 yards and touchdown passes of 52, 23, 21, 17 and 26 yards. The Boilermakers finished with a Big Ten record 763 yards in total offense and scored 60 points for the first time since 1913. On senior day, Orton stayed in the game until the 4th quarter, before leaving with a masterpiece dismantling of the Boilermakers’ rival.
The case for Orton: The first-half production was ridiculous, with 400-plus yards and 5 TDs. That’s darn near impossible to do. But Orton was also sacked 6 times, and fumbled on one of them, with the Hoosiers returning the recovery 74 yards for a touchdown. And IU was awful, finishing 3-8 overall with only 1 win in the Big Ten.
Kyle Charters, a familiar face at Gold & Black, covers Purdue, Indiana and college basketball for Saturday Tradition.